For many ophthalmologists, the concept of starting an
ophthalmic practice can seem daunting. Medical school and ophthalmology programs do very little to prepare us for the business side of medicine. While most of us will join an established practice, for some the autonomy of a self-created practice can be very exciting. However it can be difficult. Dr. Ajit Nemi, a board certified ophthalmologist in Alpharetta, GA, created LOTUS VISION (
www.seewithlotus.com). After only two years in practice, he has seen tremendous growth and success. I spoke with Dr. Nemi about the struggles and successes he encountered along the way.
DG: What made you decide to start your own practice?
AN: I had worked in a group practice in Las Vegas. While there were no stresses of practice management that I had to deal with, there were things I wanted to change. Unfortunately when a practice has been established for some time and there are multiple physicians, making change is a slow and arduous project.
DG: How did you go about starting your practice?
AN: I hired The Coker Group which gave me the building blocks to set things up. From there I looked to friends, families, and colleagues for advice.
DG: Were there any hurdles along the way?
AN: One thing that was very difficult was not receiving any payments from Medicare for over a year. I would stay on the phone with people all day and no one could figure out what the problem was. In the end it turned out that the zip code for the practice was listed as xxxxx-xxxx (9 digits with a dash) when it should have read xxxxxxxxx (9 digits without a dash). It's amazing how one small detail can cause such chaos.
DG: What do you think has allowed your practice to become so successful, especially in this climate where people are trying to minimize doctor visits?
AN: At Lotus Vision I'm trying to provide eye care in a professional manner, not only giving great care but delivering it in a timely fashion. Patients can come in for an appointment and be finished in a relatively quick period of time, and they can always walk-in on an emergency basis.
DG: Looking back, are you happy you decided to start your own practice?
AN: It's one of the best decisions I've made. I have enjoyed starting the practice and watching it grow. Every day I look forward to going to work. It has taken a lot of effort, but the time and energy invested for me were well worth it.